USA Baseball announces 2009 NT Roster

Twenty-two man roster features one member of the 2008 NT

2009 National Team (Collegiate) Roster

(CARY, N.C.) - USA Baseball announced Wednesday night the 22 members of its 2009 National Team (Collegiate). The roster is headlined by shortstop and 2008 National Team member Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton; Capey, Puerto Rico), and consists of five outfielders, six infielders, 10 pitchers, and one utility player. Two additional players will stay with the team to serve as alternates.

The National Team was selected after 10 days of trials that included eight intrasquad games and practices at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

The USA Baseball National Team is comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States. In 2009, the National Team will play in two international friendship series in North Carolina against the Canadian National Team and the Guatemalan National Team before heading to Japan for the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series and the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

"This is the most productive trials period that I have ever been a part of," said Eric Campbell, General Manager of USA Baseball National Teams. "I would like to congratulate all of the players and the staff for putting together a competitive 10 days in Cary."

Leading the 2009 National Team is Colon. The sophomore batted .263 in twenty-four games for the 2008 National Team and led the team in hits (T-26) as the club's starting second baseman. Joining Colon at infielder positions are Rick Hague (Rice; Spring, Texas), Brad Miller (Clemson; Orlando, Fla.), Andy Wilkins (Arkansas; Broken Arrow, Ark.), and utility player Kolten Wong (Hawaii; Hilo, Hawaii).

In the outfield is Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee State; Crossville, Tenn.), Michael Choice (UT Arlington; Fort Worth, Texas); Tyler Holt (Florida State; Marion, Ind.), Casey McGrew (Wright State; Delaware, Ohio), and Matt Newman (Arizona State; Phoenix, Ariz.).

The 10-member pitching staff in 2009 will include eight right-handed pitchers and two lefties. The right-handers include Trevor Bauer (UCLA; North Hollywood, Calif.); Chad Bettis (Texas Tech; Lubbock, Texas); Gerrit Cole (UCLA; Santa Ana, Calif.); Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt; Nashville, Tenn.), Nick Pepitone (Tulane; Houston, Texas); T.J. Walz (Kansas; Omaha, Neb.), Asher Wojciechowski (The Citadel; Pensacola, Fla.), and Tony Zych (Louisville; Hazelcrest, Ill.). Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi; Memphis, Tenn.) and Cody Wheeler (Coastal Carolina; Fredericksburg, Va.) are the only left-handers on the 2009 pitching staff.

Blake Forsythe (Tennessee; Memphis, Tenn.) and Yasmani Grandal (Miami; Havana, Cuba) will catch the Team USA's pitchers in 2009.

"Making the decision on who to select for the 2009 National Team has been the toughest I have ever had to make as a head coach," said the club's skipper Rick Jones (Tulane). "I give a lot of credit to my coaching staff. They put together a very organized and productive trials that allowed us to successfully choose the right players for this team."

Joining Jones are pitching coach Mike Kennedy (Elon), and assistant coaches Rob Cooper (Wright State) and Dan McDonnell (Louisville).

Remaining with the team as alternates are Rob Segedin (Tulane; Teaneck, N.J.) and Jeremy Schaffer (Tulane; Houston, Texas).

The National Team begins its summer season Thursday, opening a five-game series against the Canadian National Team in Cary, N.C. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET at the National Training Complex, and Pomeranz will take the mound for the U.S.

34 Trevor Bauer P R/R 6-1 175 North Hollywood, Calif. UCLA Fr.

35 Chad Bettis P R/R 6-0 193 Lubbock, Texas Texas Tech So. (8^th round, 2007, Astros)

7 Bryce Brentz P/OF R/R 6-0 180 Crossville, Tenn. Middle Tennessee So. (30^th round, 2007, Indians)

24 Michael Choice OF R/R 6-0 215 Fort Worth, Texas Texas-Arlington So.

29 Gerrit Cole P R/R 6-4 215 Santa Ana, Calif. UCLA Fr.  (1^stround, 28^th overall, 2008, Yankees)

Christian Colon*  IF R/R 6-0 185 Capey, Puerto Rico Cal State-Fullerton So.  (10^thround, 2007, Padres)

16 Blake Forsythe C R/R 6-2 220 Memphis, Tenn. Tennessee So.

14 Yasmani Grandal C S/R 6-2 210 Havana, Cuba Miami So. (27^th round, 2007, Red Sox)

2 Sonny Gray P R/R 5-11 180 Smyrna, Tenn. Vanderbilt Fr.  (27^th round, 2008, Cubs)

4 Rick Hague IF R/R 6-2 190 Spring, Texas Rice So. (37^th round, 2007, Brewers)

15 Tyler Holt  OF R/R 6-0 190 Marion, Ind. Florida State So.

17 Casey McGrew P L/R 6-0 175 Delaware, Ohio Wright State Jr.

13 Brad Miller  IF R/R 6-0 175 Orlando, Fla. Clemson Fr.  (39^th round, 2008, Rangers)

Matt Newman OF/P L/L 5-10 170 Phoenix, Ariz. Arizona State So. (49^th round, 2007, D-backs)

39 Nick Pepitone P R/R 6-6 230 Houston, Texas Tulane So.

40 Drew Pomeranz P L/L 6-5 231 Memphis, Tenn. Mississippi So.  (12^thround, 2007, Rangers)

TJ Walz, RHP, Omaha, Neb., Kansas

10 Cody Wheeler P L/L 5-11 160 Fredericksburg, Va. Coastal Carolina So.

Andy Wilkins IF R/L 6-2 225 Broken Arrow, Okla. Arkansas So. (25^th round, 2007, Rangers)

19 Asher Wojciechowski P R/R 6-4 205 Pensacola, Fla. The Citadel So.

45 Kolten Wong OF/C L/R 5-9 180 Hilo, Hawaii Hawaii  Fr. (16^thround, 2008, Twins)

3 Tony Zych P R/R 6-3 180 Hazelcrest, Ill. Louisville Fr. (46^th round, 2008, Cubs)

ALT - 27 Jeremy Schaffer C R/R 6-1 205 Houston, Texas Tulane Fr.

ALT - 26 Rob Segedin IF/RHP R/R 6-1 205 Teaneck, N.J. Tulane So.

 

 

 

http://web.usabaseball.com/teams/index.jsp?team=2491&content=roster

Initial 2009 NT Trials invitees released

Invitees include five members of the 2008 National Team

• USA Baseball National Team Trials Invitees

DURHAM, N.C. - USA Baseball announced Tuesday a list of 17 initial invitees to the 2009 USA Baseball National Team Trials to be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., June 15-24.

The National Team Trials will be comprised of 36 collegiate players vying for a spot on the final 22-man roster to be announced on June 24.

Included in the list are five members of the 2008 National Team which went unbeaten last summer (24-0) and won gold medals at the FISU World University Championships in the Czech Republic and the Honkbal Tournament in the Netherlands. Returning members include sophomores Derek Dietrich (Georgia Tech); Chris Hernandez (Miami); Hunter Morris (Auburn); Micah Gibbs (LSU), who batted .264 including two home runs and a team-high 17 RBI last summer; and Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton), who led the 2008 team with 173 plate appearances.

"USA Baseball is looking forward to kicking off the 2009 National Team Trials," National Team General Manager Eric Campbell said. "We look forward to building off the momentum of 2008's undefeated season, and with five players from last summer leading our first group of invitees, we're well on our way."

Other sophomores on the list are Michael Choice (UT Arlington), Blake Forsythe (Tennessee), Yasmani Grandal (Miami), Rick Hague (Rice), Deck McGuire (Georgia Tech), Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi), and Anthony Ranaudo (LSU).

Five freshmen received invitations as well, including Gerrit Cole (UCLA), Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt), Anthony Rendon (Rice), Logan Verrett (Baylor), and Tony Zych (Louisville).

The 2009 National Team will compete in several exhibition games in the Triangle-area of North Carolina, including a friendly series against the Canadian National Team, June 25 - 29, which will be played across both the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Following its domestic exhibition schedule, the U.S. will travel to Japan to compete in the 37th Annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Championships before closing out its summer in Canada at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.

The 2009 team will be coached by Tulane University head coach Rick Jones, who previously served as an assistant coach for the red, white and blue on the 1989 Presidential Cup Team and 1990 National Team. Jones is joined by pitching coach Mike Kennedy (head coach, Elon University) and assistant coaches Dan McDonnell (head coach, Louisville University) and Rob Cooper (head coach, Wright State University; 2007 USA Baseball National Team assistant coach).

"We have both a very tough and exciting schedule facing us this season," Campbell said.